Advise for 48V Charger Buy

2496 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by major, Jan 31, 2011

major

Discussion Starter · Jan 29, 2011

I need to buy several battery chargers, new. I want to use them on various battery packs of various cell counts of LiPo ranging from 10 to 75 Ah. Nominal battery voltage for the charger needs to be adjustable from, ideally, 20 to 100 volts, but I may live with a more narrow range around 48V.

I would like to use either 110 or 230 V AC depending on available source. I want isolated chargers, preferably UL listed. And I would like them to have a BMS interface to turn them off. Charge rate is desired to take full advantage of the 110V/15A supply. Weather proof would be nice, but not required.

I have what I think is a suitable budget, but I can't go overboard, like for the $3K Brusas. Any suggestion or experience is appreciated.

Thanks,

major

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DIYguy

· #2 · Jan 30, 2011

Hi Major,

Since you aren't getting much feedback. I'll start it off. I don't have experience with many types though.

The Elcon 1500 watt/ 48 volt gives you....
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/290430917-ElCon-charger-LiFePO4-Charger-wholesalers.html
- Lipo curves
- 110/230VAC (85-265VAC) 50/60hz
- isolated secondary
- switch mode efficiency (AC >.98, full load output >93%)
- weather proof (IP46)
- CAN communication interface for BMS
- intelligent temperature compensation.
- budget suitable???? $329USD according to this page.
- 1500 watts (from 40 amps at 24volts to 5 amps at 240volts output)

What you don't get is user adjustable voltage from 20 to 100. That said, it will hold 10 pre-programmed curves and it is possible to get each one with a different voltage out. (I confirmed this with Greg McCrea and will be doing it very soon on my 6kw unit)

Just a thought/option in case you didn't know....

Good luck.
Gary

major said:
I need to buy several battery chargers, new. I want to use them on various battery packs of various cell counts of LiPo ranging from 10 to 75 Ah. Nominal battery voltage for the charger needs to be adjustable from, ideally, 20 to 100 volts, but I may live with a more narrow range around 48V.

I would like to use either 110 or 230 V AC depending on available source. I want isolated chargers, preferably UL listed. And I would like them to have a BMS interface to turn them off. Charge rate is desired to take full advantage of the 110V/15A supply. Weather proof would be nice, but not required.

I have what I think is a suitable budget, but I can't go overboard, like for the $3K Brusas. Any suggestion or experience is appreciated.

Thanks,

major

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rmay635703

· #3 · Jan 30, 2011

No offense but some of the Superbrain 989 offerings make it into the 24v area might be worthwhile to KISS and use a pair of them for your 48v setup?

I know they aren't considered a real charger but they seem to work well enough for hobbiest stuff which isn't much different than your 10ahr batts and they could be flipped for Lithium NiMH or FLA.

Considering you are only messing with small aHr I would think they just fine and you could also then charge single cells for balancing, although it would only charge at 10amps thats still just fine for 70ahr as far as I'm concerned.

The price isn't "Stellar" but considering how programmable they are and the fact you can find them used if you look in the right places they might work well for you.

Good Luck
Ryan

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toddshotrods

· #4 · Jan 31, 2011

Subscribing and watching with interest, though I don't really have anything useful to contribute yet. I am planning to do some preliminary research at 48 volts. It's a cheap way to push some Lipo and NanoTech cells to the limit and beyond. I was planning to build a complete 48 volt system, with dc-dc, and charger, this year. I was planning to use some cheap 48v scooter chargers from Ebay, but haven't made any decisions or purchases in that regard yet.

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Sunking

· #5 · Jan 31, 2011 (Edited)

Well at 48 volts, I would be looking for used 48 volt rectifiers from salvaged DC power plants like every phone company uses. They are for sale all the time and can be picked up for a song and shipping charges.

Being industrial quality they last for ever and extremely precise voltage regulation. The only down side is minor in that they are only float and equalize, rather than 3 stage. However pretty easy to modify to 3 stage if one has some circuit design experience.

I have one I use on my golf cart rated at 50 amps limited to 30 amps. They can go as high as 800 amps if you happen to have 3-phase 480 volt service.

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DIYguy

· #6 · Jan 31, 2011

I assumed this was/is accurate.....?

major said:
I need to buy several battery chargers, new.

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major

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 31, 2011

DIYguy said:
I assumed this was/is accurate.....?

Hi guy,

Well, I guess I'd take them for free

But I am assuming I'd have to buy them. I did want new ones so I'd get warranty and factory/dealer support. But would consider used if the deal was right. I think I need 4, but maybe more.

I really don't want to cobble or modify equipment for this.

major

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